Outstanding Graduates Recognized at Class Night

The University of Scranton honored 65 members of its undergraduate Class of 2026 for academic excellence, leadership and service at a Class Night ceremony on Friday, May 22, at the McIlhenny Ballroom inside the DeNaples Center.

Students with the highest GPA in each of the University’s three undergraduate colleges were presented Frank J. O’Hara Awards for General Academic Excellence, a memorial to the late administrator who served the University for 53 years.  

Class of 2026 O’Hara Award recipients were: Alyssa M. Cosklo, of Fell Township, Michael J. Gallo, of Whitehall, Sheila A. Miller, of Milford, New Jersey, and Matthew F. Schade, of Haddon Heights, New Jersey, for the College of Arts and Sciences; Nathan F. Clarke, of Malvern, Dean Joseph Luciano Finan, of Downingtown, and Gary C. Mrozinski, of Taylor for the Kania School of Management; and Claudia Vivian Campisciano, of Broomall, for the Leahy College of Health Sciences.

Member of the Class of 2026 Mariah Mancuso, of Dunmore, offered remarks at the ceremony. 

In addition, students were honored for outstanding academic achievement in their fields of study, leadership and service.

The students honored at Class Night and the awards received are as follows:

David P. Banko, of Wind Gap, received the Lawrence A. Mann Award;

Alessandra Bellino, of Schwenksville, received the Excellence in Mathematics Award;

Diana Lynn Bobko, of Exton, received the Excellence in Occupational Therapy Award;

Claudia Vivian Campisciano, of Broomall, received the O'Hara Award;

Emily R. Carey, of Monroe Township, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Public Policy and Service Award;

Nathan F. Clarke, of Malvern, received the O'Hara Award and the Excellence in Accounting Award;

Chloe P. Colozza, of Old Forge, received the Mary E. Quinn Award for Excellence in Secondary Education;

Rebecca M. Colwell, of Taylor, received the Jesuit Community Award for Outstanding Service (ex aequo);

Kaitlyn M. Conrad, of Wyoming, received the Excellence in Management Award;

Alyssa M. Cosklo, of Fell Township, received the O'Hara Award and the J.J. Quinn, S.J., Achievement Award for Demonstration of Excellence in English Studies and the Excellence in Biology Award;

Erica C. Czerwinski, of Burlington, Massachusetts, received the Excellence in Psychology Award;

Philip R. Danchik, of Woodbine, Maryland, received the Excellence in Chemistry Award;

Allie D. Dean, of Endicott, New York, received the Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing, Award;

Philip J. Evan, of Kingston, received the Excellence in Economics Award (Kania School of Management);

Dean Joseph Luciano Finan, of Downingtown, received the O'Hara Award and the Excellence in Finance Award (ex aequo);

Kevin P. Finning, of Rockville Centre, New York, received the Prof. Frank C. Brown Award for Excellence in History;

Maeve A. Gale, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, received the Excellence in Health Administration Award;

Michael J. Gallo, of Whitehall, received the O'Hara Award;

Ryan W. Hanley, of Dumont, New Jersey, received the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award;

Matthew J. Jasienski, of Duryea, received the Excellence in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Award;

Christina M. Kennedy, of Morristown, New Jersey, received the Jesuit Community Award for Outstanding Service (ex aequo);

Ashley A. Kessell, of Exeter, received the Excellence in Health Promotions Award;

Madison Jean Kuharchik, of West Pittston, received the Excellence in Forensic Chemistry Award;

Benjamin Lenert, of Havertown, received the Excellence in Cybercrime and Homeland Security Award;

Grace V. Lennox, of Peckville, received the Prof. Timothy H. Scully Award for Excellence in Political Science;

Bianca Leonard, of Hellertown, received the Excellence in Counseling and Human Services Award;

Grace L. Lloyd, of Yardley, received the J. Timothy Cannon Award for Excellence in Neuroscience;

Tanis J. MacNamee, of Windsor, New York, received the Excellence in Kinesiology Award;

Allison M. Magee, of Harleysville, received the Excellence in Economics Award (College of Arts and Sciences);

Ian T. Mahalek, of Fairfax, Virginia, received the Excellence in Environmental Science Award;

Mariah A. Mancuso, of Dunmore, received the Student Life Award (ex aequo) and spoke at the event;

Thomas Edward Marine, of Cockeysville, Maryland, received the Susquehanna Valley American Chemical Society Senior Award;

Sofia C. Mastellone, of Wayne, New Jersey, received the Lawrence Lennon Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement in Psychology;

Denis P. McBride, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Applied Computing Award;

Ashley M. McCartney, of Macungie, received the Excellence in Early and Primary Teacher Education Award;

Deirdre Rose Meagher, of Staten Island, New York, received the Excellence in Communication Sciences and Disorders Award;

Hadley M. Michaels, of Baldwinsville, New York, received the Academic Excellence in Nursing Award;

Olivia N. Miller, of Phoenixville, received the Excellence in Operations Management Award;

Sheila A. Miller, of Milford, New Jersey, received the O'Hara Award and the Prof. Bernard J. McGurl Award for Excellence in Communication;

Faith E. Montagnino, of Morganville, New Jersey, received the Prof. Joseph B. Cullather Award for Excellence in English;

Gary C. Mrozinski, of Taylor, received the O'Hara Award and the Excellence in Finance Award (ex aequo);

Sheldon S. Myers, of Downingtown, received the Excellence in Biochemistry Award;

Thomas M. O'Hern, of West Caldwell, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Chemistry Business Award;

James W. O'Malley, of Ambler, received the Dr. A.J. Cawley Award for Excellence in Engineering;

Caroline E. O'Rourke, of Huntington, New York, received the Excellence in Physiology Award;

Evangelina M. Paisi, of East Stroudsburg, received the Excellence in International Studies Award;

Gabriella M. Palmer, of Phoenixville, received the Excellence in Theatre Award;

Alek D. Panchik, of Hershey, received the Excellence in Business Administration Award;

Quentin A. Pegan, of Upper Chichester, received the Croteau and Marx Family Award for Excellence in Mechanical Engineering;

Rebecca F. Potter, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, received the Prof. Joseph P. Harper Award for Excellence in Physics;

Jonathon Purvis, of Carbondale, received the Excellence in Computer Science Award;

Brian Readie, of Cranford, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Information Technology Award;

Kaeli Marie Romanowski, of Lake Ariel, received the Edward K. Spitzer Scholarship Award;

Vito M. Rotell, of Eynon, received the Excellence in Business Analytics Award and the Student Life Award (ex aequo);

Matthew F. Schade, of Haddon Heights, New Jersey, received the O'Hara Award;

Therese J. Shimkus, of Scranton, received the Excellence in Philosophy Award;

Sarayah F. Smith, of Dallas, received the Excellence in Criminal Justice Award;

Samantha R. Sonnie, of Philadelphia, received the J. Harold Brislin Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism;

Nicole C. Tonny, of Scranton, received the Excellence in Marketing Award;

Ashlyn Urbanski, of Pittston, received the Excellence in Mathematical Sciences Award;

Elizabeth G. Vander Neut, of Exton, received the Alumni Loyalty and Service Award;

Maria I. Viola, of Monroe, New York, received the Excellence in Theology Award;

Stevie-Gianna V. Vitale, of Freehold, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Sociology Award;

Steven Wohlmuth, of Cromwell, Connecticut, received the Military Science Leadership Award;

Delaney M. Wozniak, of Kings Park, New York, received the Excellence in Human Resource Studies Award.

An archived recording of the ceremony can be seen at this link.